Embracing the Friluftsliv Way: A Guide to Spending More Time Outdoors
Embrace Life in the Great Outdoors: Friluftsliv, the Norwegian Way
Forget mundane, obligatory strolls for the sake of your mental health. Instead, elevate your connection with nature and live your life outdoors, Scandinavian-style. Here's a lowdown on friluftsliv—the Norwegian lifestyle that'll have you breathing in fresh air and soaking up the stunning landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
Catch the Friluftsliv Fever
Friluftsliv, pronounced FREE-loofts-leave (Don't worry about remembering it perfect okey-dokey), is Norwegian for "life in the free air"—essentially, life spent outside, simply and unpretentiously. According to Andy Meyer, an assistant teaching professor of Norwegian at the University of Washington, friluftsliv isn't some secretive or sellable concept. It's all about embracing the great outdoors.
Get Active, Find Peace
Friluftsliv isn't strictly about physical fitness; it's about mental health and finding solace in nature. "Friluftsliv in Ibsen's poem wasn't necessarily about physical health but mental health, giving yourself breathing room for the body and thoughts," Meyer explains. So whether you're hiking up a hillside, cross-country skiing across a snowy plain, or doing yoga in your yard, as long as you're being active and present outside, you're living the friluftsliv lifestyle.
The Mind-Nature Connection
Research by Peter Kahn, a psychologist with the UW Department of Psychology, shows that time spent in nature significantly decreases stress, boosts mood, and improves cognitive function, making you feel happier. What's more, time in nature provides a sense of meaning and purpose, enhances social interaction, makes everyday life seem more manageable, and even improves sleep.
Making Friluftsliv Your Own
So, how can we adopt this Norwegian way of life here in the Pacific Northwest?
Cherish the Urban Nature
Sure, lengthy hikes in forested wilderness are fab, but when you're strapped for time, embrace short walks, even meandering urban walks, to feel the rhythm of life outside. Remember—quality over quantity!
Embrace the Elements
Brave unfavorable weather as an adventure rather than a nuisance. Stay curious about the experience instead of judging it as negative. And hey, PNW residents, don't fret about winter's Big Dark—friluftsliv benefits still apply during the darker months.
Advocate for Accessibility
Unfortunately, not everyone has easy access to outdoor activities. Identify and fight for the equitable distribution of outdoor spaces, resources, and affordable gear across various communities such as lower-income people, people of color, and people with disabilities. Together, we can create opportunities for all to reap the benefits of friluftsliv.
With friluftsliv, you can transform your lifestyle from one riddled with stressors to one bursting with tranquility and connection with nature. Give it a shot, and see the world in a whole new perspective. 🌲☔️⛰️
- Integrate fitness and exercise into your outdoor activities as part of the friluftsliv lifestyle for improved mental health and overall well-being.
- Incorporate yoga, hiking, or cross-country skiing into your routines, or simply take a mindful walk in nature to reap the benefits for your mental health and cognitive function.
- Stay updated on the latest news regarding health and wellness trends, and discover how science supports the positive effects that friluftsliv can have on sleep, mood, and stress levels.
- Adopting a health-and-wellness-focused lifestyle, embrace fashion-and-beauty trends that encourage outdoor activities and inspire others to join you on your friluftsliv journeys.
- Encourage workplace wellness programs to incorporate elements of friluftsliv, such as team-building hikes, nature retreats, or outdoor yoga sessions, to boost employee morale and productivity.
